Both teams come into tonight's game with a record of 6-3-1 in the last 10 games. The Lightning had a no show effort in their last game against the Kings. Props go to the Kings for playing a great roadgame, but the Lightning didn't really give them much of a challenge. Based on Scotty Hockey's recap of the Rangers game against the Devils on Tuesday, it sounds like the Rangers put in the same effort that the Lightning did.

I still can't get over that the Rangers are currently in 1st in the Conference. It just doesn't seem like it should be possible. Like I know while watching 24/7 they were playing well, but in 1st? Crazy world we live in. Larry Brooks wrote an article about how their buyin of the system for the Rangers could make them the next big winners in New York. The Lightning are not thinking of how far the Rangers are ahead of them as there is no catching up, but will just take one game at a time.

Tonight they begin a three game road trip where we'll face off against the Ranger, Sabres and Pens. John is comparing this road trip to a change in weather, and is using some English device that I can't remember what it's called from my English 12 glasses in high school. Something about the cold of the trip being like our season dying with each game played that ends in a loss.

There's something about a good article about Hedman that just makes me all warm and fuzzy. This one by Damien Cristodero is one that I read tonight that I think encapsulates his progress as a player. Also, Boucher was in metaphor-city with his quotes:

Boucher has called Hedman "terrific" and "a machine."

"He's turning into a monster. I love it."

"He's one of those guys you want to hurry up and blossom, and that's happening," Boucher said. "He's going one step at a time, but he's climbing that ladder and looking really good." -Tampa Bay Times

That's some high praise for the still young defenceman.

Hedman has matured and grown in a slow steady way. Sometimes its frustrating to watch the others around his draft class achieve more faster, but allowances have to made because he's a defenceman. And defenceman just take a little bit more time than forwards for the most part. His progress can only be measure in comparison to the year before, and the year before that, and his rookie year. It can been seen in the mistakes he doesn't make now, in the patience that he shows with the puck and the average of 22:20 minutes a game he plays.

Enemy Blog: Head over to The Royal Half for your opposition blog coverageRecord: Lightning (23-23-5) Kings (25-18-10) Previous games: None, this is the only game this season between the teamsGame time: 7:30pm on NBCSP (HD), TSN2

Quick tries to look serious or maybe sultry. Neither work when you look 12

I'm not sure what is happening with the Lightning right now. They look like they are out of it and then out of nowhere they just start winning. WTF?

I keep being asked if I think the Lightning will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. I'm thinking sellers, but the team has been putting together wins to just screw with Yzerman a little. The issue with the Lightning going into the trade deadline is that they don't have reliable goaltending. I sound like a broken record on this goaltending front. Garon has won the starting position over Roloson, yes, but is he the guy you want to go with down the stretch? And if you want someone better, *cough* Schneider *cough* Bernier, *cough* Harding, then you need to give up a good, possibly young, player with a good upside. Also, would either Gillis or Lombardi trade them away at the deadline? I just don't see it happening. How much confidence do you have in this group for a run in the post season even if the team had a more reliable goaltender?

Just between friends, Stammer, we need to have a little heart to heart.

Now I know you are growing up, and you feel that you need to rock the hockey hair. Maybe this is a thing that you and Downie have going this season, but it's really just not working for me. I know it's not about just me, but let's be real here, your hair is getting a little outta control.

What am I talking about?

Let's go through some examples from this past weekend in Ottawa:

This whole get-up makes you look like a freakin candy cane...but it's the hair that just puts it over the top

This should just be case and point, but let's keep going.

This is when you got picked at the ASG draft:

All washed and with a blow-out here but notice how you have to tuck your hair behind your ears?

Alfredsson looks a little freaky there trying to hold his smile there. That would freak me out.

Here are your glam shots:

Nice Lightning bolt placement there.

Ah yes, the stick behind the shoulders look

Let's try the backwards hat (with oversized writing) look:

This = GOOD

And this photo with Spezza:

Um, you look like Spezza's inbred cousin there. Or an albino rat.

I'm just saying.

So for your pick-up game, not the one at the ASG but with women, maybe a little bit more focus on what your hair is doing would give you that extra something something.

I don't think anything I will write in this post will correctly emphasize how great the Community Hero Program has been. As someone who volunteers at a youth homeless shelter, I can tell you how much donations mean to the organization and how far a donation of $50,000 can go.

Since we are at the half way point in the home games this season, Jeff Vinik has given away a total of $1 million to community heroes from the Tampa Bay area. If you haven't seen any of the individuals videos on the Lightning website, he features a hero at each home game and donates $50,000 to their cause. The above video is great because it shows how excited he is with this program. In particular I love how he talks about being genuinely inspired by the people he has met through the program.

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